Tika Annisa Lestari Koeswandi, 2014 MIDDLE SCHOOL READERS’ MEANING-MAKING ON JEFF KINNEY’S DIARY OF A WIMPY KID
Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia |
repository.upi.edu |
perpustakaan.upi.edu
CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
This chapter deals with methodological aspects of the study. It comprises research procedure that discusses the design of descriptive qualitative approach in brief. The steps
taken in conducting this study are also included in stages of research and the way data is analyzed is comprised in data collection and analysis. A synopsis of the novel is also
included.
3.1 Research Design
This study employs the descriptive-qualitative case study. According to Creswell 2007 descriptive-qualitativeis a method focused on text and image analysis rather than
numbers. It aims to explain, analyze, and classify something through various interviews, questionnaires, observation and test. By considering the explanation above, this method is
considered as the most suitable one to this study. It is because the aims of this study which are to describe the way middle school readers make meaning on Jeff Kinney’s Diary of A
Wimpy Kid and to classify their readers’ categorization. Thus, instead of focusing on
numbers, this study focuses more on words. There are several strategies used in descriptive-qualitative method such as narratives,
phenomenologies, ethnographies, grounded theory studies, and case studies Creswell, 2007. In line with this, case study is chosen as a strategy used in this study. It is becausethis study
focuses on a group of people who is bounded by doing the same activity and having same interest. This notion is supported by Stake 1995 as cited in Creswell 2007 who says that
case study is a strategy used in descriptive-qualitative method which allows the researcher to explore in depth a program, an event, an activity, a process, or one or more individuals. The
cases are bounded by time and activity. In addition, the researchers allow to collect detailed information using a variety of data collection procedures in a period of time.
3.2 Technique of Collecting Data
In collecting the data, this study uses a procedure as follows: 1.
Selecting a topic
Tika Annisa Lestari Koeswandi, 2014 MIDDLE SCHOOL READERS’ MEANING-MAKING ON JEFF KINNEY’S DIARY OF A WIMPY KID
Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia |
repository.upi.edu |
perpustakaan.upi.edu
In this stage, the fi rst series of Jeff Kinney’s Diary of A Wimpy Kid was chosen
because this novel got manyattention by teenages in Indonesia. This decision was supported by the previous studies which mostly focused on a set of short stories.
2. Formulating research problems
In this stage, several questions were made and treated as the guidance of the study. It was considered important because it guided the study to keep in the right track. Thus, the
aims of this study could be answered. 3.
Finding related studies In this stage, the writer looked for any patterns and tendencies from previous related
studies in certain period of time. It was helpful to understand more about the theoretical frameworks and also to place the strength and weaknesses of this study.
4. Collecting the data The data were collected
by using three instruments consisted of readers’ responses, questionnaires, and interviews. Readers’ responses were the main instrument of this study. To
collect the data by using readers’ responses, the readers were given 10 questions which
triggered them to have Langer’s 1991 meaning-making process and Garrison and Hynds’
1991 categorization of reader. Meanwhile, questionnaires were treated as a supported instrument. Questionnaires were made to make sure that they have read the novel, to observe
how far the readers knew about the novel, and to trace readers’ reading activities. In addition,
interviews were held to clarify the readers’ answers.
5. Sampling The respondents were six middle school members in fan group of this novel named
Wimpy Kid Indonesia. The six middle school membes were selected by doing purposive sampling. According to Kusniawati 2010 purposive sampling is a technique of sampling
that is used for specific purpose. This kind of sample is suitable for a study which concerns in a single case or case study. In doing purposive sampling, there were several steps, first, the
respondents were limited into members who have read the first book of Diary of A Wimpy Kids. Second, the respondents were selected into those who knew elements of the story such
as the characters, the setting, or what issues were reflected in this novel. In order to support this step, a questionnaire regarding reader’s comprehension towards elements of the story
was given. Third, the respondents wereselected by age factors because this study focused on middle school readers. Thus, readers who are 12-14 years old were selected. Fourth, the
Tika Annisa Lestari Koeswandi, 2014 MIDDLE SCHOOL READERS’ MEANING-MAKING ON JEFF KINNEY’S DIARY OF A WIMPY KID
Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia |
repository.upi.edu |
perpustakaan.upi.edu
respondents were selectedbyregion factor. In this step, the respondents who live in West Java were chosen. This step was taken in order to have manageable and accessible data.
5. Analyzing the data The collected data were
firstly categorized based on Langer’s 1991 making-meaning categorization. The results of data analysis from the first step were then categorized based on
Garrison and Hynds 1991 categories of readers. In analyzing what meaning behind the findings,
readers’ reading activitieswere also involved. 6. Drawing conclusion
Conclusions were made to summarize the result of the whole study and to make some suggestions and inputs for the current situation concerned with middle school readers’
responses. Furthermore, the conclusion hopefully can be the hint for the future study dealing with middle school readers’ making-meaning and categorization of readers. Thus, the
strength of this study can be used and weakness or the gap existing in the study can be fulfilled.
3.3 Subjects of the study
